Process for the hydrogenation of imines

ABSTRACT

A process for the preparation of primary or secondary amines by hydrogenation of imines with hydrogen at elevated pressure and in the presence of a dinuclear Ir(III) complex having ditertiary diphosphine ligands, halide bridges, halide and hydride ligands, or an Ir(III) halide complex salt containing ditertiary diphosphine ligands, as catalyst, wherein the catalyst corresponds to formula I or Ia or to mixtures of at least two compounds of formula I, at least two compounds of formulae I and Ia, or at least two compounds of formula Ia 
     
         [(DIP)IrX.sub.q Y.sub.r ].sub.2                            (I), 
    
     
         [(DIP)X.sub.4 ].sup.⊖ Me.sup.⊕                 (Ia), 
    
     wherein 
     DIP is the ditertiary diphosphine ligand of a ferrocenyldiphosphine the phosphine groups of which are either bonded directly or via a bridge group --CR v  R w  -- to the ortho positions of a cyclopentadienyl ring or are each bonded to a cyclopentadienyl ring of a ferrocenyl, so that a 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring is formed together with the Ir atom; 
     R v  and R w  are each independently of the other hydrogen, C 1  -C 8  alkyl, C 1  -C 4  fluoroalkyl, phenyl or benzyl, or are phenyl or benzyl each having from 1 to 3 C 1  -C 4  alkyl or C 1  -C 4  -alkoxy substituents; 
     X is Cl, Br or I; 
     Y is H; 
     q is a number 2 or 3 and r is 0 or 1, the sum of q+r being equal to 3; and 
     Me.sup.⊕  is an alkali metal cation or quaternary ammonium.

This application is a 371 of PCT/EP96/03147 filed Jul. 17, 1996.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of amines by hydrogenation of imines in the presence of dinuclear iridium complexes having ferrocenyl(di-tertiary phosphine) ligands.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,999 describes dinuclear Ir(III) complexes having ditertiary diphosphine ligands and halide bridges, halide and hydride ligands and Ir(III) halide complex salts containing a ditertiary diphosphine ligand that are suitable as catalysts for a hydrogenation of imines that may be an enantioselective hydrogenation. Ditertiary ferrocenyldiphosphine ligands are not mentioned. U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,256 and EP-A-0 612 758 describe iridium complexes having chiral ferrocenyldiphosphine ligands for the homogeneous enantioselective hydrogenation of imines. Those homogeneous catalysis processes have proved valuable, but the activity and selectivity of the catalysts, while already high per se, are still not entirely satisfactory. It has also been suggested that soluble halides be added to the reaction mixture in order to improve the enantioselectivity and the activity and stability of the catalysts.

It has now been found that dinuclear Ir(III) complexes having ditertiary diphosphine ligands and halide bridges, halide and hydride ligands and Ir(III) halide complex salts containing a ditertiary diphosphine ligand exhibit an unexpectedly high catalyst activity and stability in the hydrogenation of imines, on their own, without further additives. Furthermore, when chiral diphosphine ligands and prochiral imines are used, extraordinarily high enantioselectivities are achieved, which may amount to an enantiomeric excess of 80% and more. The reaction times for a one hundred percent conversion may even be considerably less than an hour and, even at low catalyst concentrations, very high yields can still be achieved in relatively short reaction times.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of primary or secondary amines by hydrogenation of imines with hydrogen at elevated pressure and in the presence of a dinuclear Ir(III) complex having ditertiary diphosphine ligands, halide bridges, halide and hydride ligands, or an Ir(III) halide complex salt containing ditertiary diphosphine ligands, as catalyst, wherein the catalyst corresponds to formula I or Ia or to mixtures of at least two compounds of formula I, at least two compounds of formulae I and Ia, or at least two compounds of formula Ia

    [(DIP)IrX.sub.q Y.sub.r ].sub.2                            (I),

    [(DIP)X.sub.4 ].sup.⊖ Me.sup.⊕                 (Ia),

wherein

DIP is the ditertiary diphosphine ligand of a ferrocenyldiphosphine the phosphine groups of which are either bonded directly or via a bridge group --CR_(v) R_(w) -- to the ortho positions of a cyclopentadienyl ring or are each bonded to a cyclopentadienyl ring of a ferrocenyl, so that a 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring is formed together with the Ir atom;

R_(v) and R_(w) are each independently of the other hydrogen, C₁ -C₈ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ fluoroalkyl, phenyl or benzyl, or are phenyl or benzyl each having from 1 to 3 C₁ -C₄ alkyl or C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy substituents;

X is Cl, Br or I;

Y is H;

q is the number 2 or 3 and r is 0 or 1, the sum of q+r being equal to 3; and

Me.sup.⊕ is an alkali metal cation or quaternary ammonium.

The iridium compounds are preferably homogeneous catalysts that are to a large extent soluble in the reaction medium. The term "catalyst" also includes catalyst precursors which are converted into an active catalyst species at the beginning of a hydrogenation reaction.

R_(w) is preferably hydrogen. R_(v) is preferably C₁ -C₄ alkyl, for example methyl, ethyl, n-propyl or n-butyl, and especially methyl.

The ditertiary ferrocenyldiphosphine preferably contains at least one chiral group, and the diphosphine is especially an optically pure stereoisomer or a pair of diastereoisomers since, with catalysts that contain chiral ligands, optical inductions are obtained in asymmetric hydrogen reactions.

The phosphine groups preferably contain two identical or different, more preferably identical, unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 20, especially from 1 to 12, carbon atoms. Preferred diphosphines are those wherein the secondary phosphine groups contain two identical or different radicals from the following group: linear or branched C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl; unsubstituted or C₁ -C₆ alkyl- or C₁ -C₆ alkoxy-substituted C₅ -C₁₂ -cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl--CH₂ --, phenyl and benzyl; and phenyl and benzyl each substituted by halogen, (e.g. F, Cl and Br), C₁ -C₆ haloalkyl, (C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl)₃ Si, (C₆ H₅)₃ Si, C₁ -C₆ haloalkoxy (e.g. trifluoromethoxy), --NH₂, phenyl₂ N-, benzyl₂ N-, morpholinyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, (C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl)₂ N--, -ammonium-X₁.sup.⊖, --SO₃ M₁, --CO₂ M₁, --PO₃ M₁ or by --COO--C₁ -C₆ alkyl (e.g. --COOCH₃); wherein M₁ is an alkali metal or hydrogen and X₁.sup.⊖ is the anion of a monobasic acid. M₁ is preferably H, Li, Na or K. A₁.sup.⊖, as the anion of a monobasic acid, is preferably Cl.sup.⊖, Br.sup.⊖ or the anion of a carboxylic acid, for example formate, acetate, trichloroacetate or trifluoroacetate.

Examples of alkyl that preferably contains from 1 to 6 carbon atoms are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-, iso- and tert-butyl and the isomers of pentyl and hexyl. Examples of unsubstituted or alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl are cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, methyl- or ethyl-cyclohexyl and dimethylcyclohexyl. Examples of phenyl and benzyl each substituted by alkyl, alkoxy or by haloalkoxy are methylphenyl, dimethylphenyl, trimethylphenyl, ethylphenyl, methylbenzyl, methoxyphenyl, dimethoxyphenyl, trifluoromethylphenyl, bistrifluoromethylphenyl, tristrifluoromethylphenyl, trifluoromethoxyphenyl and bistrifluoromethoxyphenyl. Preferred phosphine groups are those which contain identical or different, preferably identical, radicals from the following group: C₁ -C₆ alkyl; cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl that are unsubstituted or have from one to three C₁ -C₄ alkyl or C₁ -C₄ alkoxy substituents; and benzyl and especially phenyl that are unsubstituted or have from one to three C₁ -C₄ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, F, Cl, C₁ -C₄ fluoroalkyl or C₁ -C₄ fluoroalkoxy substituents.

The secondary phosphine groups bonded to the cyclopentadienyl may be radicals of the formula ##STR1## wherein m and n are each independently of the other an integer from 2 to 10 and the sum of m+n is equal to from 4 to 12, especially from 5 to 8. Examples thereof are [3.3.1]- and [4.2.1]-phobyl of the formulae ##STR2##

The secondary phosphine groups may also be radicals of the formula ##STR3## wherein R₁₆ is C₁ -C₄ alkylene, preferably C₂ - or C₃ -alkylene, and R₁₄ and R₁₅ are each independently of the other hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, C₁ -C₆ haloalkyl, C₅ - or C₆ -cycloalkyl, or phenyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₄ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ haloalkyl or by halogen, or benzyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₄ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ haloalkyl or by halogen. R₁₄ and R₁₅ may be, for example, methyl, ethyl, n- or iso-propyl, n-, iso- or tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl or benzyl. Halogen is preferably F or Cl. Those phosphine groups possess further chiral carbon atoms and can be used in the form of racemates or diastereoisomers. Among those phosphine ligands, those of the formula ##STR4## wherein R₁₇ and R₁₈ are C₁ -C₄ alkyl or phenyl, are especially preferred.

The ferrocenyldiphosphine preferably corresponds to formula II

    R.sub.1 R.sub.2 P--R.sub.5 --PR.sub.3 R.sub.4              (II),

wherein

R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ are each independently of the others a hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms that is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, halogen, C₁ -C₆ haloalkyl, (C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl)₃ Si, (C₆ H₅)₃ Si, C₁ -C₆ haloalkoxy, --NH₂, phenyl₂ N-, benzyl₂ N-, morpholinyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, (C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl)₂ N-, -ammonium-X₁.sup.⊖, --SO₃ M₁, --CO₂ M₁, --PO₃ M₁ or by --COO--C₁ -C₆ alkyl, wherein M₁ is an alkali metal or hydrogen and X₁.sup.⊖ is the anion of a monobasic acid;

R₁ and R₂ together and R₃ and R₄ together form a C₁ -C₄ alkylene radical that is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, C₁ -C₆ haloalkyl, C₅ - or C₆ -cycloalkyl, by phenyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₄ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ haloalkyl or by halogen, or by benzyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₄ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ haloalkyl or by halogen; and

R₅ is a radical of the formula ##STR5## wherein R₆ is hydrogen, C₁ -C₈ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ fluoroalkyl, phenyl or phenyl having from 1 to 3 C₁ -C₄ -alkyl or C₁ -C₄ alkoxy substituents.

R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ are preferably identical or different, preferably identical, radicals from the following group: C₁ -C₆ alkyl; cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl that are unsubstituted or have from one to three C₁ -C₄ alkyl or C₁ -C₄ alkoxy substituents; and benzyl and especially phenyl that are unsubstituted or have from one to three C₁ -C₄ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, F, Cl, C₁ -C₄ fluoroalkyl or C₁ -C₄ fluoroalkoxy substituents.

Especially suitable disphosphine ligands DIP are those of formula III ##STR6## wherein R₆ is hydrogen and especially methyl; and

A represents identical or different groups --P(R)₂ wherein R is C₁ -C₆ alkyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, benzyl, or phenyl or benzyl each having from one to three C₁ -C₄ alkyl, disubstituted amino, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, --CF₃ or partially or completely fluorinated C₁ -C₄ alkoxy substituents.

R, when alkyl, is preferably branched C₃ -C₆ alkyl. Disubstituted amino is preferably secondary amino having from 2 to 20, and preferably from 2 to 12, carbon atoms. It may have the formula --NR₇ R₀₇ wherein R₇ and R₀₇ are each independently of the other C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, unsubstituted or C₁ -C₄ alkyl- or C₁ -C₄ alkoxy-substituted C₅ - or C₆ -cycloalkyl, or unsubstituted or C₁ -C₄ alkyl- or C₁ -C₄ alkoxy-substituted phenyl or benzyl, or R₇ and R₈ together are tetramethylene, pentamethylene or --(CH₂)₂ --O--(CH₂)₂ --.

A preferred sub-group is one in which the diphosphine of formula III is chiral and R₆ is C₁ -C₄ alkyl, or phenyl or benzyl each having from one to three C₁ -C₄ alkyl or C₁ -C₄ alkoxy substituents, A represents identical or different groups --P(R)₂ wherein R is branched C₃ -C₆ alkyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, benzyl, or phenyl or benzyl each having from one to three C₁ -C₄ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ dialkylamino, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, --CF₃ or partially or completely fluorinated C₁ -C₄ alkoxy substituents. In the case of those phosphines, chirally substituted compounds wherein R₆ is methyl are especially preferred.

R in the group --P(R)₂ is, within the scope of the preferences mentioned above, especially phenyl or substituted phenyl.

Most especially preferred among those diphosphine ligands are the following, which may preferably be used in catalysts of formula (I):

{(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)phosphine

{(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-dimethyl-4-N,N-dipropylaminophenyl)phosphine

{(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-di-iso-propyl-4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)phosphine

{(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-di-iso-propyl-4-N,N-dibenzylylaminophenyl)phosphine

{(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-dimethyl-4-N,N-dibenzylylaminophenyl)phosphine

{(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-dimethyl-4-(1'-pyrrolo)phenyl)phosphine

{(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-dimethyl-4-N,N-dipentylaminophenyl)phosphine

{(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-dimethyl-4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)phosphine

{(R)-1-[(S)-2-di(4-methoxyphenyl)phosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-dimethyl-4N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)phosphine and especially

{(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)phosphine.

The preparation of ferrocenyldiphosphine ligands is described, for example, in EP-A-0 564 406 and by T. Hayashi et al. in Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn., 53, pages 1136-1151, and by A. Togni et al. in J. Am. Chem. Soc., 116, pages 4062 to 4066 (1994) and in Inorg. Chim. Acta, 222, pages 213 to 224.

In formulae I and Ia, X is preferably Br and especially I. Also in formulae I and Ia, q is 2 or 3and r is 1.

M.sup.⊕ in formula Ia may be (C₁ -C₆ alkyl)₄ N.sup.⊕, Li.sup.⊕, Na.sup.⊕ or K.sup.⊕.

In an especially preferred form of the process of the invention, the catalysts are those of formula Ib

    [(DIP)IrI.sub.2 H].sub.2                                   (Ib),

wherein DIP is as defined hereinbefore, including the preferred definitions.

The iridium catalysts to be used according to the invention may be prepared according to the processes described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,999.

Suitable imines are especially those which contain at least one ##STR7## group. If the groups are substituted asymmetrically and are thus compounds having a prochiral ketimine group, it is possible in the process of the invention for mixtures of optical isomers or pure optical isomers to be formed if enantioselective or diastereoselective iridium catalysts are used. The imines may contain further chiral carbon atoms. The free bonds in the above formulae may be saturated with hydrogen or organic radicals having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms or organic hetero radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and at least one hetero atom from the group O, S, N and P. The nitrogen atom of the group ##STR8## may also be saturated with NH₂ or a primary amino group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms or a secondary amino group having from 2 to 40 carbon atoms. The organic radicals may be substituted, for example, by F, Cl, Br, C₁ -C₄ haloalkyl, wherein halogen is preferably F or Cl, --CN, --NO₂, --CO₂ H, --CONH₂, --SO₃ H, --PO₃ H₂, or by C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl esters, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl amides, phenyl esters or benzyl esters of the groups --CO₂ H, --SO₃ H and --PO₃ H₂. Aldimine and ketimine groups are especially reactive and therefore a selective hydrogenation of ##STR9## groups in addition to the groups ##STR10## and/or ##STR11## is possible with the process of the invention. Aldimine and ketimine groups are also be understood as including hydrazone groups ##STR12##

The process of the invention is suitable especially for the hydrogenation of aldimines, ketimines and hydrazones with the formation of corresponding amines and hydrazines. The ketimines are preferably N-substituted. It is preferable to use chiral iridium catalysts and to hydrogenate enantiomerically pure, chiral or prochiral ketimines to prepare optical isomers, the optical yields (enantiomeric excess, ee) being, for example, higher than 30%, preferably higher than 50%, and it being possible to obtain yields of more than 90%. The optical yield indicates the ratio of the two stereoisomers formed, which ratio may be, for example, greater than 2:1 and preferably greater than 4:1.

The imines are preferably imines of formula IV ##STR13## which are hydrogenated to form amines of formula V ##STR14## wherein R₁₀ is preferably a substituent; and wherein R₁₀ is preferably linear or branched C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, cycloalkyl having from 3 to 8 ring carbon atoms; heterocycloalkyl bonded via a carbon atom and having from 3 to 8 ring atoms and 1 or 2 hetero atoms from the group O, S and NR₁₁ ; a C₇ -C₁₆ aralkyl bonded via an alkyl carbon atom, or C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl substituted by said cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl or heteroaryl;

or wherein R₁₀ is C₆ -C₁₂ aryl, or C₄ -C₁₁ heteroaryl bonded via a ring carbon atom and having 1 or 2 hetero atoms in the ring; R₁₀ being unsubstituted or substituted by --CN, --NO₂, F, Cl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy, C₁ -C₁₂ alkylthio, C₁ -C₆ haloalkyl, --OH, C₆ -C₁₂ -aryl or -aryloxy or -arylthio, C₇ -C₁₆ -aralkyl or -aralkoxy or -aralkylthio, secondary amino having from 2 to 24 carbon atoms, --CONR₁₂ R₁₃ or by --COOR₁₂, and the aryl radicals and the aryl groups in aralkyl, aralkoxy and aralkylthio in turn being unsubstituted or substituted by --CN, --NO₂, F, Cl, C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, -alkoxy, -alkylthio, --OH, --CONR₁₂ R₁₃ or by --COOR₁₂ ;

R₁₂ and R₁₃ are each independently of the other hydrogen, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, phenyl or benzyl, or R₁₂ and R₁₃ together are tetra- or penta-methylene or 3-oxapentylene;

R₁₁ has independently the same meaning as given for R₁₂ ;

R₈ and R₉ are each independently of the other a hydrogen atom, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl or cycloalkyl having from 3 to 8 ring carbon atoms, each of which is unsubstituted or substituted by --OH, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, secondary amino having from 2 to 24 carbon atoms, --CONR₁₂ R₁₃ or by --COOR₁₂ ; C₆ -C₁₂ aryl or C₇ -C₁₆ aralkyl each of which is unsubstituted or substituted as R₁₀, or --CONR₁₂ R₁₃ or --COOR₁₂ wherein R₁₂ and R₁₃ are as defined hereinbefore; or

R₁₀ is as defined hereinbefore and R₈ and R₉ together are alkylene having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms that is optionally interrupted by 1 or 2 --O--, --S-- or --NR₆ -- radicals, and/or unsubstituted or substituted by ═O or as indicated above for R₈ and R₉ in the meaning of alkyl, and/or condensed with benzene, pyridine, pyrimidine, furan, thiophene or pyrrole; or

R₉ is as defined hereinbefore and R₈ and R₁₀ together are alkylene having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms that is optionally interrupted by 1 or 2 --O--, --S-- or --NR₁₁ -- radicals, and/or unsubstituted or substituted by ═O or as indicated above for R₈ and R₉ in the meaning of alkyl, and/or condensed with benzene, pyridine, pyrimidine, furan, thiophene or pyrrole.

The radicals R₈, R₉ and R₁₀ may contain one or more centres of chirality.

R₈, R₉ and R₁₀ may be substituted in any desired positions by identical or different radicals, for example by from 1 to 5, preferably from 1 to 3, substituents.

Suitable substituents for R₈ and for R₉ and R₁₀ are:

C₁ -C₁₂ -, preferably C₁ -C₆ - and especially C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, -alkoxy or -alkylthio, e.g. methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-, iso- and tert-butyl, the isomers of pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl and dodecyl, and corresponding alkoxy and alkylthio radicals;

C₁ -C₆ -, preferably C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl having preferably F and Cl as halogen, e.g. trifluoro- or trichloro-methyl, difluorochloromethyl, fluorodichloromethyl, 1,1-difluoroeth-1-yl, 1,1-dichloroeth-1-yl, 1,1,1-trichloro- or 1,1,1-trifluoroeth-2-yl, pentachloroethyl, pentafluoroethyl, 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,2-dichloroethyl, n-perfluoropropyl, iso-perfluoropropyl, n-perfluorobutyl, fluoro- or chloro-methyl, difluoro- or dichloro-methyl, 1-fluoro- or 1-chloro-eth-2-yl or -eth-1-yl, 1-, 2- or 3-fluoro- or 1-, 2- or 3-chloro-prop-1-yl or -prop-2-yl or -prop-3-yl, 1-fluoro- or 1-chloro-but-1-yl, -but-2-yl, -but-3-yl or -but-4-yl, 2,3-dichloro-prop-1-yl, 1-chloro-2-fluoro-prop-3-yl, 2,3-dichlorobut-1-yl;

C₆ -C₁₂ -aryl, -aryloxy or -arylthio, in which aryl is preferably naphthyl and especially phenyl, C₇ -C₁₆ -aralkyl, -aralkoxy and -aralkylthio, in which the aryl radical is preferably naphthyl and especially phenyl and the alkylene radical is linear or branched and contains from 1 to 10, preferably from 1 to 6 and especially from 1 to 3, carbon atoms, for example benzyl, naphthylmethyl, 1- or 2-phenyl-eth-1-yl or -eth-2-yl, 1-, 2- or 3-phenyl-prop-1-yl, -prop-2-yl or -prop-3-yl, with benzyl being especially preferred;

the radicals containing the aryl groups mentioned above may in turn be mono- or poly-substituted, for example by C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, -alkoxy or -alkylthio, halogen, --OH, --CONR₁₂ R₁₃ or by --COOR₁₂, wherein R₁₂ and R₁₃ are as defined; examples are methyl, ethyl, n- and iso-propyl, butyl, corresponding alkoxy and alkylthio radicals, F, Cl, Br, dimethyl-, methylethyl- and diethyl-carbamoyl and methoxy-, ethoxy-, phenoxy- and benzyloxy-carbonyl;

halogen, preferably F and Cl;

secondary amino having from 2 to 24, preferably from 2 to 12 and especially from 2 to 6, carbon atoms, the secondary amlino preferably containing 2 alkyl groups, for example dimethyl-, methylethyl-, diethyl-, methylpropyl-, methyl-n-butyl-, di-n-propyl-, di-n-butyl-, di-n-hexyl-amino;

--CONR₁₂ R₁₃, wherein R₁₂ and R₁₃ are each independently of the other C₁ -C₁₂ -, preferably C₁ -C₆ -, and especially C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, or R₁₂ and R₁₃ together are tetra- or penta-methylene or 3-oxapentylene, the alkyl being linear or branched, e.g. dimethyl-, methylethyl-, diethyl-, methyl-n-propyl-, ethyl-n-propyl-, di-n-propyl-, methyl-n-butyl-, ethyl-n-butyl-, n-propyl-n-butyl- and di-n-butyl-carbamoyl;

--COOR₁₂, wherein R₁₂ is C₁ -C₁₂ -, preferably C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, which may be linear or branched, e.g. methyl, ethyl, n- and iso-propyl, n-, iso- and tert-butyl, and the isomers of pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl and dodecyl.

R₈, R₉ and R₁₀ may contain especially functional groups, such as keto groups, --CN, --NO₂, carbon double bonds, N--O--, aromatic halogen groups and amide groups.

R₈ and R₉ as heteroaryl are preferably a 5- or 6-membered ring having 1 or 2 identical or different hetero atoms, especially O, S or N, which contains preferably 4 or 5 carbon atoms and can be condensed with benzene. Examples of heteroaromatics from which R₈ and R₉ can be derived are furan, pyrrole, thiophene, pyridine, pyrimidine, indole and quinoline.

R₈ and R₉ as heteroaryl-substituted alkyl are derived preferably from a 5- or 6-membered ring having 1 or 2 identical or different hetero atoms, especially O, S or N, that contains preferably 4 or 5 carbon atoms and can be condensed with benzene. Examples of heteroaromatics are furan, pyrrole, thiophene, pyridine, pyrimidine, indole and quinoline.

R₈ and R₉ as heterocycloalkyl or as heterocycloalkyl-substituted alkyl contain preferably from 4 to 6 ring atoms and 1 or 2 identical or different hetero atoms from the group O, S and NR₁₁. It can be condensed with benzene. It may be derived, for example, from pyrrolidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydrothiophene, indane, pyrazolidine, oxazolidine, piperidine, piperazine or morpholine.

R₈, R₉ and R₁₀ as alkyl are preferably unsubstituted or substituted C₁ -C₆ -, especially C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, which may be linear or branched. Examples are methyl, ethyl, iso- and n-propyl, iso-, n- and tert-butyl, the isomers of pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl and dodecyl.

R₈, R₉ and R₁₀ as unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl contain preferably from 3 to 6, especially 5 or 6, ring carbon atoms. Examples are cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl and cyclooctyl.

R₈, R₉ and R₁₀ as aryl are preferably unsubstituted or substituted naphthyl and especially phenyl. R₈, R₉ and R₁₀ as aralkyl are preferably unsubstituted or substituted phenylalkyl having from 1 to 10, preferably from 1 to 6 and especially from 1 to 4, carbon atoms in the alkylene, the alkylene being linear or branched. Examples are especially benzyl, and 1-phenyleth-1-yl, 2-phenyleth-1-yl, 1-phenylprop-1-yl, 1-phenylprop-2-yl, 1-phenylprop-3-yl, 2-phenylprop-1-yl, 2-phenylprop-2-yl and 1-phenylbut-4-yl.

In R₉ and R₁₀ as --CONR₁₂ R₁₃ and --COOR₁₂, R₁₂ and R₁₃ are preferably C₁ -C₆ -, especially C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, or R₁₂ and R₁₃ together are tetramethylene, pentamethylene or 3-oxapentylene. Examples of alkyl are mentioned hereinbefore.

R₈ and R₉ together or R₈ and R₁₀ together as alkylene are preferably interrupted by 1 --O--, --S-- or --NR₁₁ --, preferably --O--. R₈ and R₉ together or R₈ and R₁₀ together form, with the carbon atom or with the --N═C group to which they are respectively bonded preferably a 5- or 6-membered ring. For the substituents the preferences mentioned hereinbefore apply. As condensed alkylene, R₈ and R₉ together or R₈ and R₁₀ together are preferably alkylene condensed with benzene or pyridine. Examples of alkylene are: ethylene, 1,2- or 1,3-propylene, 1,2-, 1,3- or 1,4-butylene, 1,5-pentylene and 1,6-hexylene. Examples of interrupted or ═O-substituted alkylene are 2-oxa-1,3-propylene, 2-oxa-1,4-butylene, 2-oxa- or 3-oxa-1,5-pentylene, 3-thia-1,5-pentylene, 2-thia-1,4-butylene, 2-thia-1,3-propylene, 2-methylimino-1,3-propylene, 2-ethylimino-1,4-butylene, 2- or 3-methylimino-1,5-pentylene, 1-oxo-2-oxa-1,3-propylene, 1-oxo-2-oxa-1,4-butylene, 2-oxo-3-oxa-1,4-butylene and 1-oxa-2-oxo-1,5-pentylene. Examples of condensed alkylene are: ##STR15##

Examples of condensed and interrupted and unsubstituted or ═O-substituted alkylene are: ##STR16##

R₁₂ and R₁₃ are preferably each independently of the other hydrogen, C₁ -C₄ alkyl, phenyl or benzyl. R₁₁ is preferably hydrogen or C₁ -C₄ alkyl.

A further preferred group is formed by prochiral imines in which in formula IV R₈ and R₉ are different from each other.

In an especially preferred group, in formula IV R₁₀ is 2,6-di-C₁ -C₄ alkylphen-1-yl and especially 2,6-dimethylphen-1-yl or 2-methyl-6-ethylphen-1-yl, R₈ is C₁ -C₄ alkyl and especially ethyl or methyl, and R₉ is C₁ -C₄ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ alkoxymethyl or C₁ -C₄ alkoxyethyl, and especially methoxymethyl.

Of those compounds, imines of formulae ##STR17## important, as is the imine of formula ##STR18##

Imines of formula IV are known or they can be prepared in accordance with known processes from aldehydes or ketones and primary amines.

The molar ratio of imine to iridium catalyst may be, for example, from 1 000 000 to 10, especially from 500 000 to 20, more preferably from 200 000 to 100 and most preferably from 100 000 to 100.

The process is carried out preferably at a temperature of from -20 to 100° C., especially from 0 to 80° C. and more especially from 10 to 70° C., and preferably at a hydrogen pressure of from 2×10⁵ to 1.5×10⁷ Pa (5 to 150 bar), especially from 10⁶ to 10⁷ Pa (10 to 100 bar).

The reaction can be carried out in the absence or in the presence of solvents. Suitable solvents, which can be used alone or as a mixture of solvents, are, for example:

aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, such as pentane, hexane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, benzene, toluene and xylene; ethers, such as diethyl ether, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; halogenated hydrocarbons, such as methylene chloride, chloroform, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane and chlorobenzene; esters and lactones, such as ethyl acetate, butyrolactone and valerolactone; acid amides and lactams, such as dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide and N-methylpyrrolidone, and ketones, such as acetone, dibutyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone and methoxyacetone.

In detail, the process according to the invention can be carried out by first dissolving the catalyst in a solvent or in a portion of the substance to be hydrogenated and then adding the imine (where appropriate as a solution). That mixture is hydrogenated in an autoclave and the reaction mixture is isolated and purified in a manner known per se, for example by precipitation, extraction or distillation. The catalyst may be formed in situ in the starting phase of the hydrogenation.

Before the hydrogenation reaction, a protective gas atmosphere is advantageously used. It is advantageous to ensure that the catalyst solution stands for only a short time, and to carry out the hydrogenation of the imines as soon as possible after the preparation of the catalyst solution.

In the case of the hydrogenation of aldimines and ketimines, the aldimines and ketimines can also be formed in situ before or during the hydrogenation. In a preferred form, an amine and an aldehyde or a ketone are mixed together and added to the catalyst solution and the aldimine or ketimine formed in situ is hydrogenated. It is also possible, however, to use an amine, a ketone or an aldehyde together with the catalyst as the initial batch and to add the ketone or the aldehyde or the amine thereto, either all at once or in metered amounts.

The hydrogenation can be carried out continuously or batchwise in various types of reactor. Preference is given to those reactors which allow comparatively good intermixing and good removal of heat, such as, for example, loop reactors. That type of reactor has proved to be especially satisfactory when small amounts of catalyst are used.

The process according to the invention yields the corresponding amines in short reaction times while having chemically a high degree of conversion, with surprisingly excellent optical yields (ee) of 70% or more being obtained even at relatively high temperatures of more than 50° C., and even with high molar ratios of imine to catalyst.

The hydrogenated organic compounds that can be prepared in accordance with the invention, for example the amines, are biologically active substances or are intermediates for the preparation of such substances, especially in the field of the preparation of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. For example, o,o-dialkylarylketamine derivatives, especially those having alkyl and/or alkoxyalkyl groups, are effective as fungicides, especially as herbicides. The derivatives may be amine salts, acid amides, for example of chloroacetic acid, tertiary amines and ammonium salts (see, for example, EP-A-0 077 755 and EP-A-0 115 470).

Especially important in this connection are the optically active amines of formula VII ##STR19## which can be prepared using the processes according to the invention from the imines of formula (VI) in the presence of asymmetric iridium catalysts, and wherein R₀₁, R₀₂ and R₀₃ are each independently of the others C₁ -C₄ alkyl, and R₀₄ is C₁ -C₄ alkyl or C₁ -C₄ -alkoxymethyl or C₁ -C₄ alkoxyethyl, and especially the amines of the formulae ##STR20## which can be prepared from the imines of formulae (VIa) and (VIb) and can be converted in accordance with methods that are customary per se with chloroacetic acid into the desired herbicides of the chloroacetanilide type; of those compounds, the compounds having the S-configuration at the asymmetric C* atom are most especially preferred.

The Examples that follow illustrate the invention in more detail. The chemical conversion is determined by gas chromatography (column 2 m OV 101 / 100 to 200° C. at 10° C./min). The optical yields (enantiomeric excess, ee) are determined either by gas chromatography [Chirasil-Val column, 50 m, manufacturer: Alltech, USA, T=150° C., isothermic], by HPLC (Chiracel OD column) or by ¹ H-NMR spectroscopy (using shift reagents).

For the diphosphines, the following abbreviations are used:

{(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-bis [(3,5-dimethyl)phenyl]phosphine [PPF-P(xyl)₂ ]

{(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-bis[(3,5-dimethyl-4-dimethylamino)phenyl]phosphine [PPF-P(NMe₂ xyl)₂ ]

{(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di-(tertiary butyl)phosphine [PPF-P(t-Bu)₂ ]

A) Preparation of starting compounds and catalysts

EXAMPLE A1 Preparation of [(PPF-P(xyl)₂)Ir(cyclooctadiene)]BF₄ (A1)

320 mg (1.64 mmol) of AgBF₄ are added to a solution of 525 mg (0.78 mmol) of [Ir(cyclooctadiene)Cl]₂ in 10 ml of methylene chloride and stirred. After 15 minutes, 1 g (1.57 mmol) of PPF-P(xyl)₂ in 10 ml of methylene chloride is slowly added dropwise. The deep-red solution formed is stirred at room temperature for 12 h with the exclusion of light. It is then filtered over Celite and the solvent is evaporated off in vacuo to yield 1.54 g (96%) of a deep-red solid (A1).

³¹ P{¹ H}-NMR (121 MHz; CDCl₃) 40.34 and 8.68 (AX; ² J_(PP) 32 21.9 and 23.6 Hz; 92%); 6.49 and 25.11 (AX; ² J_(PP) =23.96 and 23.63 Hz; 6%); 18.87 (s; 2%).

EXAMPLE A2 Preparation of [(PPF-P(NMe₂ xyl)₂)Ir(cyclooctadiene)]BF₄ (A2)

Preparation is effected analogously to Example A1. The isolated product contains, according to the NMR spectrum, approximately 10% by-products.

³¹ P{¹ H}-NMR (121 MHz; CDCl₃) 39.76 and 10.24 (AX; ² J_(PP) =21.5 and 21.0 Hz)

EXAMPLE A3 Preparation of [(PPF-P(t-Bu)₂)Ir(cyclooctadiene)]BF₄ (A3)

Preparation is effected analogously to Example A1. The isolated product contains, according to the NMR spectrum, approximately 10% by-products.

³¹ P{¹ H}-NMR (121 MHz; CDCl₃). 61.38 and 9.52 (AX; ² J_(PP) =10.5 and 17.7 Hz)

EXAMPLE A4 Preparation of [(PPF-P(xyl)₂)IrHI₂ ]₂ (Ir1)

a) 6.5 g (48.6 mmol) of LiI are added to a solution of 1.5 mmol of compound A1 in 20 ml of acetone and the mixture is then refluxed with stirring for 5 h. After cooling, the solvent is removed using a rotary evaporator. The orange-red residue is dissolved in 100 ml of methylene chloride, left to stand at room temperature for 12 h, and the white precipitate which forms is removed by filtration. The filtrate is washed twice with 100 ml of water and the solvent is then removed using a rotary evaporator. The orange-brown residue is taken up in 20 ml of methylene chloride, 50 ml of pentane are added thereto and the orange-brown precipitate is removed by filtration. The filtrate is again concentrated to dryness, taken up in 5 ml of methylene chloride, 20 ml of pentane are added thereto and the red-brown precipitate is removed by filtration. The last procedure is repeated, and the three precipitates are combined, washed with 10 ml of water, twice with 10 ml of ethanol, twice with 5 ml of diethyl ether and three times with 10 ml of pentane. 1.35 g (83%) of an orange-brown solid are obtained as a mixture of isomers.

¹ H-NMR (300 MHz; CDCl₃) Hydride region: Main isomer -17.25 (dd, ΣJ=25.5 Hz, 73%) Other resonances: -16.15 (m, broad, 5%); -16.22 (dd, ΣJ=24.6 Hz, 6%); -19.16 (t, ² J_(P) =16.1 Hz, 6%); -19.72 (t, ² J_(P) =16.1 Hz, 5%); 20.86 (dd, ΣJ=28.9 Hz, 5%) ppm.

b) 450 mg (0.44 mmol) of compound A1 and 1.5 g of LiI (26 equivalents) are mixed with 10 ml of acetone, the mixture is refluxed for 2 h and then the solvent is removed to yield a deep-red solid comprising 2 position isomers as the main products, which are separated as follows:

First the residue is dried under a high vacuum for 12 h, then 20 ml of methylene chloride are added, the insoluble constituents are removed by filtration and the solvent is removed in vacuo. That procedure is repeated three times. Then 5 ml of toluene are added and the yellow-orange solution is decanted from the dark red oil which has separated. The procedure is repeated twice. The three filtrates are combined and concentrated to dryness by evaporation. 5 ml of toluene are added, the yellow solution is decanted from the red oil and the procedure is repeated. The filtrates and oil fractions are combined. 30 ml of pentane are added to the yellow toluene solution (10 ml) and the yellow solid which precipitates is removed by filtration. The filtrate is concentrated by evaporation, dissolved with 4 ml of toluene, 30 ml of pentane are added and the yellow solid which precipitates is then removed by filtration. The filtrate is concentrated by evaporation and the brown solid is washed twice with 2 ml of ethanol and twice with 2 ml of diethyl ether. After drying, 65 mg (14%) of compound Ir2 are obtained in the form of a fawn-coloured solid.

¹ H-NMR (300 MHz; CDCl₃) Hydride region: Main isomer -17.22 (dd, ΣJ=25.6 Hz, 92%)

³¹ P{¹ H}-NMR (121 MHz; CDCl₃). Main isomer. 10.4 and -22.2 (AX; ² J_(PP) =18.5 and 15.8 Hz, 92%).

The red oil is dried in vacuo and dissolved in methylene chloride, and undissolved portions are removed by filtration. The solvent is then evaporated off and the procedure is repeated twice. 270 mg (57%) of compound Ir3 are obtained in the form of a reddish brown solid.

¹ H-NMR (300 MHz; CDCl₃) Hydride region: Main isomer -19.74 (t, ² J_(HP) =16.3 Hz, 84%)

³¹ P{¹ H}-NMR (121 MHz; CDCl₃). Main isomer: 15.5 and -8.6 (AX; ² J_(PP) =12.5 and 12.8 Hz, 84%). EXAMPLE A5

Preparation of [(PPF-P(NMe₂ xyl)₂)IrHI₂ ]₂ (Ir4)

1.4 g (39 equivalents) of LiI are added to a solution of 0.134 mmol of compound A2 in 8 ml of acetone and the mixture is refluxed with stirring for 5 h. It is then concentrated using a rotary evaporator to a volume of 4 ml and the yellow-orange solid residue is separated off by centrifuging. The solid is washed twice with 2 ml of acetone, with 2 ml of methylene chloride, with 2 ml of chloroform and twice with 5 ml of pentane. After drying in vacuo, 125 mg (40%) of a yellow-orange solid are obtained.

¹ H-NMR (300 MHz; CD₃ CN) Hydride region: -20.51 (t, ² J_(HP) =16.1 Hz, 87%); -20.28 t, ² J_(HP) =17.0 Hz, 13%).

³¹ P{¹ H}-NMR (121 MHz; CD₃ CN) 11.8 and -14.4 (s, 85%); 8.1 and -16.4 (m, 15%).

EXAMPLE A6 Preparation of [(PPF-P(t-Bu)₂)IrHI₂ ]₂ (Ir5)

2.6 g of LiI (19.43 mmol) are added to a solution of 0.245 mmol of compound A3 in 15 ml of acetone and the mixture is then refluxed with stirring for 8 h. The solvent is then removed using a rotary evaporator and the dark red solid residue is dried under a high vacuum. The solid is dissolved in 20 ml of methylene chloride and the insoluble constituents are removed by filtration. That procedure is repeated twice. The residue is again taken up in methylene chloride and washed twice with 10 ml of water. The methylene chloride is then removed using a rotary evaporator and the reddish brown residue is washed three times with 10 ml of ethanol and three times with 10 ml of diethyl ether. After drying in vacuo, 450 mg (93%) of a reddish brown solid are obtained.

¹ H-NMR (300 MHz; CDCl₃) Hydride region: -18.88 (dd,Σ² J_(HP) =32 Hz, 40%); -21.48 (t, ² J_(HP) =15.5 Hz, 60%).

³¹ P{¹ H}-NMR (121 MHz; CDCl₃) 60.4 and 8.0 (s, broad, 40%); 54.8 and -9.9 (s, broad, 60%).

B) Hydrogenation of imines

The following abbreviations are used for the imines used: ##STR21##

EXAMPLES B1-B13

In a 50 ml steel autoclave, the catalyst (0.0157 mmol) is dissolved in 2.5 ml of methylene chloride and 7.5 ml of tetrahydrofuran. The imine (7.83 mmol, 500 equivalents) is added to the solution. The autoclave is degassed three times with hydrogen at 25 bar. The reaction mixture is then heated to 30° C. and hydrogen is passed in under pressure. To examine the course of the reaction, samples may be taken periodically via a built-in cannula. t_(Con) is the time taken before the conversion indicated is reached and t_(End) is the total reaction time. S/Ir is the molar ratio of DMA to iridium catalyst. Ir denotes the iridium catalysts Ir1 to Ir5 according to Examples A4 to A6. In Examples B3 and B10 tetrahydrofuran is used, in Example B4 methylene chloride, in Example B5 toluene, and in Example B6 methyl tert-butyl ether. The results are given in Table 1.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                                     H.sub.2                    Optical                                             pressure                                                                               t.sub.Con     Yield                                                                               Yield Ex-                               Ir  S/Ir    (bar)   (% conversion)                                                                          t.sub.End                                                                           (%)  (% ee)                                                                               ample                             ______________________________________                                         Ir1 500     40      15'(82)  25'  98   82(S) B1                                Ir1 500     10      30'(51)  1h15 98   82(S) B2                                Ir1 500     10      30'(61)  1h   98   81(S) B3                                Ir1 500     10      1h (40)  3h25 80   77(S) B4                                Ir1 500     10      2h (49)  3h05 82   80(S) B5                                Ir1 500     40      30'(87)  45'  99   86(S) B6                                Ir2 500     40      15'(91)  45'  100  82(S) B7                                Ir2 500     10      15'(51)  30'  93   82(S) B8                                Ir2 10 000  40      2h (43)  4h   95   82(S) B9                                Ir2 85 000  40      24h (26) 96h  95   82(S) B10                               Ir3 500     40      15'(47)  30'  96   82(S) B11                               Ir4 500     40      15'(68)  25'  98   83(S) B12                               Ir5 500     40      24h (14) 95h  31   42(S) B13                               ______________________________________                                     

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for the preparation of primary or secondary amines by hydrogenation of imines with hydrogen at elevated pressure and in the presence of a dinuclear Ir(III) complex having ditertiary diphosphine ligands, halide bridges, halide and hydride ligands, or an Ir(III) halide complex salt containing ditertiary diphosphine ligands, as catalyst, wherein the catalyst corresponds to formula I or Ia or to mixtures of at least two compounds of formula I, at least two compounds of formulae I and Ia, or at least two compounds of formula Ia

    [(DIP)IrX.sub.q Y.sub.r ].sub.2                            (I),

    [(DIP)X.sub.4 ].sup.⊖ Me.sup.⊕                 (Ia),

wherein DIP is the ditertiary diphosphine ligand of a ferrocenyldiphosphine the phosphine groups of which are either bonded directly or via a bridge group --CR_(v) R_(w) -- in the ortho positions of a cyclopentadienyl ring or are each bonded to a cyclopentadienyl ring of a ferrocenyl, so that a 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring is formed together with the Ir atom; R_(v) and R_(w) are each independently of the other hydrogen, C₁ -C₈ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ fluoroalkyl, phenyl or benzyl, or are phenyl or benzyl each having from 1 to 3 C₁ -C₄ alkyl or C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy substituents; X is Cl, Br or I; Y is H; q is a number 2 or 3 and r is 0 or 1, the sum of q+r being equal to 3; and Me.sup.⊕ is an alkali metal cation or quatemary ammonium.
 2. A process according to claim 1, wherein R_(w) is hydrogen.
 3. A process according to claims 1 and 2, wherein R_(v) is C₁ -C₄ alkyl.
 4. A process according to claim 3, wherein R_(v) is methyl.
 5. A process according to claim 1, wherein the ditertiary diphosphine contains at least one chiral group and is a stereoisomer or a pair of diastercoisomers.
 6. A process according to claim 1, wherein the phosphine groups contain two identical or different unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms.
 7. A process according to claim 1, wherein the diphosphines contain two identical or different radicals from the following group: linear or branched C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl; unsubstituted or C₁ -C₆ alkyl- or C₁ -C₆ alkoxy-substituted C₅ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl--CH₂ --, phenyl and benzyl; and phenyl and benzyl each substituted by halogen, C₁ -C₆ haloalkyl, (C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl)₃ Si, (C₆ H₅)₃ Si, C₁ -C₆ haloalkoxy, --NH₂, phenyl₂ N-, benzyl₂ N-, morpholinyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, (C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl)₂ N-, -ammonium-X₁.sup.⊖, --SO₃ M₁, --CO₂ M₁, --PO₃ M₁ or by --COO--C₁ -C₆ alkyl; wherein M₁ is an alkali metal or hydrogen and X₁.sup.⊖ is the anion of a monobasic acid, and M₁ is preferably H, Li, Na or K.
 8. A process according to claim 1, whereinthe phosphine groups are radicals of the formula ##STR22## wherein m and n are each independently of the other an integer from 2 to 10 and the sum of m+n is equal to from 4 to
 12. 9. A process according to claim 1, wherein the phosphine groups are radicals of the formula ##STR23## wherein R₁₆ is C₁ -C₄ alkylene, and R₁₄ and R₁₅ are each independently of the other hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, C₁ -C₆ haloalkyl, C₅ - or C₆ -cycloalkyl, or phenyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₄ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ haloalkyl or by halogen, or benzyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₄ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ haloalkyl or by halogen.
 10. A process according to claim 1, wherein the ferrocenyldiphosphine corresponds to formula II

    R.sub.1 R.sub.2 P--R.sub.5 --PR.sub.3 R.sub.4              (II),

wherein R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ are each independently of the others a hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms that is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, halogen, C₁ -C₆ haloalkyl, (C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl)₃ Si, (C₆ H₅)₃ Si, C₁ -C₆ haloalkoxy, --NH₂, phenyl₂ N-, benzyl₂ N-, morpholinyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, (C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl)₂ N-, -ammonium-X_(hu) ⊖, --SO₃ M₁, --CO₂ M₁, --PO₃ M₁ or by --COO--C₁ -C₆ alkyl, wherein M₁ is an alkali metal or hydrogen and X₁.sup.⊖ is the anion of a monobasic acid; R₁ and R₂ together and R₃ and R₄ together form a C₁ -C₄ alkylene radical that is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, C₁ -C₆ haloalkyl, C₅ - or C₆ -cycloalkyl, by phenyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₄ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ haloalkyl or by halogen, or by benzyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₄ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ haloalkyl or by halogen; and R₅ is a radical of the formula ##STR24## wherein R₆ is hydrogen, C₁ -C₈ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ fluoroalkyl, phenyl or phenyl having from 1 to 3 C₁ -C₄ alkyl or C₁ -C₄ alkoxy substituents.
 11. A process according to claim 10, wherein R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ are identical or different radicals from the following group: C₁ -C₆ alkyl; cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl that are unsubstituted or have from one to three C₁ -C₄ alkyl or C₁ -C₄ alkoxy substituents; and benzyl and phenyl that are unsubstituted or have from one to three C ₁ -C₄ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, F, Cl, C₁ -C₄ fluoroalkyl or C₁ -C₄ fluoroalkoxy substituents.
 12. A process according to claim 10, wherein the disphosphine ligands DIP are those of formula III ##STR25## wherein R₆ is hydrogen or methyl; andA represents identical or different groups --P(R)₂ wherein R is C₁ -C₆ alkyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, benzyl, or phenyl or benzyl each having from one to three C₁ -C₄ alkyl, disubstituted amino, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, --CF₃ or partially or completely fluorinated C₁ -C₄ alkoxy substituents.
 13. A process according to claim 12, wherein the diphosphine of formula III is chiral and R₆ is C₁ -C₄ alkyl, or phenyl or benzyl each having from one to three C₁ -C₄ alkyl or C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy substituents, A represents identical or different groups --P(R)₂ wherein R is branched C₃ -C₆ alkyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, benzyl, or phenyl or benzyl each having from one to three C₁ -C₄ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ dialkylamino, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, --CF₃ or partially or completely fluorinated C₁ -C₄ alkoxy substituents.
 14. A process according to claim 13, wherein R in the group P(R)₂ is phenyl or substituted phenyl.
 15. A process according to claim 1, wherein the diphosphines are selected from the following group:{(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)phosphine {(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-dimethyl-4-N,N-dipropylaminophenyl)phosphine {(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-di-iso-propyl-4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)phosphine {(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-di-iso-propyl-4-N,N-dibenzylylaminophenyl)phosphine {(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-dimethyl-4-N,N-dibenzylylaminophenyl)phosphine {(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-dimethyl-4-(1'-pyrrolo)phenyl)phosphine {(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-dimethyl-4-N,N-dipentylaminophenyl)phosphine {(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-dimethyl-4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)phosphine {(R)-1-[(S)-2-di(4-methoxyphenyl)phosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-dimethyl-4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)phosphine and especially {(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)phosphine.
 16. A process according to claim 1, wherein the catalysts are those of formula Ib

    [(DIP)IrI.sub.2 H].sub.2                                   (Ib)

wherein DIP is as defined in claim
 1. 17. A process according to claim 1, wherein the imines are imines of formula IV ##STR26## wherein R₁₀ is linear or branched C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, cycloalkyl having from 3 to 8 ring carbon atoms; heterocycloalkyl bonded via a carbon atom and having from 3 to 8 ring atoms and 1 or 2 hetero atoms from the group O, S and NR₁₁ ; a C₇ -C₁₆ aralkyl bonded via an alkyl carbon atom, or C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl substituted by said cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl or heteroaryl;or wherein R₁₀ is C₆ -C₁₂ aryl, or C₄ -C₁₁ heteroaryl bonded via a ring carbon atom and having 1 or 2 hetero atoms in the ring; R₁₀ being unsubstituted or substituted by --CN, --NO₂, F, Cl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy, C₁ -C₁₂ alkylthio, C₁ -C₆ haloalkyl, --OH, C₆ -C₁₂ -aryl or -aryloxy or -arylthio, C₇ -C₁₆ -aralkyl or -aralkoxy or -aralkylthio, secondary amino having from 2 to 24 carbon atoms, --CONR₁₂ R₁₃ or by --COOR₁₂, and the aryl radicals and the aryl groups in aralkyl, aralkoxy and aralkylthio in turn being unsubstituted or substituted by --CN, --NO₂, F, Cl, C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, -alkoxy, -alkylthio, --OH, --CONR₁₂ R₁₃ or by --COOR₁₂ ; R₁₂ and R₁₃ are each independently of the other hydrogen, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, phenyl or benzyl, or R₁₂ and R₁₃ together are tetra- or penta-methylene or 3-oxapentylene; R₁₁ has independently the same meaning as given for R₁₂ ; R₈ and R₉ are each independently of the other a hydrogen atom, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl or cycloalkyl having from 3 to 8 ring carbon atoms, each of which is unsubstituted or substituted by --OH, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, secondary amino having from 2 to 24 carbon atoms, --CONR₁₂ R₁₃ or by --COOR₁₂ ; C₆ -C₁₂ aryl or C₇ -C₁₆ aralkyl each of which is unsubstituted or substituted as R₁₀, or --CONR₁₂ R₁₃ or --COOR₁₂ wherein R₁₂ and R₁₃ are as defined hereinbefore; or R₁₀ is as defined hereinbefore and R₈ and R₉ together are alkylene having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms that is optionally interrupted by 1 or 2 --O--, --S-- or --NR₆ -- radicals, and/or unsubstituted or substituted by ═O or as indicated above for R₈ and R₉ in the meaning of alkyl, and/or condensed with benzene, pyridine, pyrimidine, furan, thiophene or pyrrole; or R₉ is as defined hereinbefore and R₉ and R₁₀ together are alkylene having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms that is optionally interrupted by 1 or 2 --O--, --S-- or --NR₁₁ -- radicals, and/or unsubstituted or substituted by ═O or as indicated above for R₈ and R₉ in the meaning of alkyl, and/or condensed with benzene, pyridine, pyrimidine, furan, thiophene or pyrrole.
 18. A process according to claim 17, wherein R₈ and R₉ are different from each other.
 19. A process according to claim 17, wherein, in formula IV, R₁₀ is 2,6-di-C₁ -C₄ alkylphen-1-yl, R₈ is C₁ -C₄ alkyl, and R₉ is C₁ -C₄ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ alkoxymethyl or C₁ -C₄ alkoxyethyl.
 20. A process according to claim 17, wherein the imines are imines of the formulae ##STR27## .
 21. A process according to claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of imine to iridium catalyst is from 1 000 000 to
 10. 22. A process according to claim 21, wherein the molar ratio of imine to iridium catalyst is from 500 000 to
 20. 23. A process according to claim 21, wherein the molar ratio of imine to iridium catalyst is from 200 000 to
 100. 24. A process according to claim 21, wherein the molar ratio of imine to iridium catalyst is from 100 000 to
 100. 25. A process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction temperature is from -20 to 100° C.
 26. A process according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen pressure is from 2×10⁵ to 1.5×10⁷ Pa.
 27. A process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of a solvent. 